Last updated: February 5, 2021

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Bruisers
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Purpose: Used to stun walkers and absorb damage. Bruisers should be built to maximize their ability to take or dodge hits. These are must-have survivors for anyone who wants to push their limits. Bruisers should prioritize:
(1) A weapon with Razor and wide arc
(2) Maximum Damage Reduction at 80%
(3) An armor with Hazard Suit
(4) As much Dodge and Health as possible

Survivor traits
- Must-have traits: Punish, Retaliate, Iron Skin, Dodge, Lucky
- Nice-to-have traits: Defensive Stance
- Useless traits: Power Strike, Strong, Vigilant, Ruthless, Follow Through, Bullet Dodge

What weapons traits are helpful?
- Razor (must-have): Absolutely imperative for stunning high level walkers
- Lucky (high priority): Can be very helpful by boosting leader traits, dodge, stun resistance, etc.
- Tactical (high priority): Very useful because it adds DR and allows for extra movement - can be very helpful in maps where you have to get to an exit or open crates
- Concussion (high priority): Can stun walkers for an extra turn
- Interrupt (useful in some situations): Can be useful against walkers that cannot be stunned (fatties, goo, spike) but absolutely NEEDS to be paired with Razor. Interrupt ONLY works when it is not a body shot, so against high level walkers, you will need Razor to give you a chance to not be a body shot

Ideal weapons
- Tactical Staff (Silver Tactical, Gold Concussion and Razor)
- Lucky Staff (Silver Lucky, Gold Concussion and Razor)
- Festive Lucille (Silver Tactical, Gold Concussion and Razor)
- Kingdom Shield (Silver Tactical, Gold Concussion and Razor)

What armor traits are helpful?
- Hazard Suit (must-have): This trait can't be found anywhere else, so it is a must-have - the chance to reduce attacks to a body shot is super important to be able to take extra hits
- Dodge (high priority): At lower levels, this trait allows you to completely dodge hits. At higher levels, this trait can reduce a critical hit to a regular hit. When paired with Hazard Suit, Hazard Suit can turn a critical hit into a body shot, and then Dodge can allow you to completely dodge an attack
- Health (medium priority): Good to have, but not as valuable as the two traits above
- Stun Resistance (useful in some situations): Self-explanatory - keep this around for fatties and goo walkers
- Iron Skin (useful in some situations): This is a must-have if it helps you get to 80% DR, but if you already have 80% DR, you don't need it

Ideal armors
- Health armor (Silver Health, Gold Hazard Suit and Dodge)
- Stun resistance armor (Silver Stun Resistance, Gold Hazard Suit and Dodge)

Strategies with Bruisers
- Run for a gate or the exit. (Example: Abandoned Camp 50.2 or Woodbury 49.1)
- Take hits and create stun walls when paired with Sasha and/or other Bruisers and Assaults. (Example: Armored Force 49.1 or In The Compound 50.1)
- Mix Scouts and Bruisers for a team with balanced offensive and defensive capabilities. (Example: The Back Lot 45.1 or Cabin By The Lake 46.2)